This hymn was written in 1874 and appeared in ‘Loyal Responses’ (1878), one of Frances Ridley Havergal’s several volumes of hymns.

In some hymn books, the text is prefaced by a quotation from Romans 12:1: “… present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”.

Frances Ridley Havergal (December 14, 1836 – June 3, 1879) was an English religious poet and hymn writer. “Take my life and let it be” is probably her best known hymn. She also wrote hymn melodies, religious tracts, and works for children.

One of the possible tunes to accompany the hymn is “Consecration” (StF 566ii), written by Frances’ father, the Revd William Henry Havergal, an Anglican clergyman and musician.